Device for picking up a tubular knitted article from a knitting machine and for sewing the toe

ABSTRACT

Described herein is a device for picking up a tubular knitted article (M) from a cylinder ( 5 ) of a circular knitting machine ( 3 ) and for closing the toe of said article. The device comprises a sewing machine for sewing the toe of the tubular article and a suction pipe ( 13 ) which develops from an intake end ( 13 A), in an area where the tubular article is picked up from the circular knitting machine, to an output end ( 13 B), in an area where the toe of the article is sewn. Also provided is a guide element ( 15 ) for guiding the tubular article, said guide element developing inside said suction pipe and extending inside the cylinder of the circular knitting machine. Between the guide element ( 15 ) and the inner wall of the suction pipe ( 13 ) there remains a space for transit of the tubular article.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for picking up aknitted article, such as a sock, stocking or the like, from the circularknitting machine that has formed it and for closing the toe of saidarticle with a sewing operation.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Many tubular knitted articles, such as socks and stockings, arecurrently produced on circular knitting machines, namely knittingmachines equipped with a cylinder with a circular bed of needles. Thearticle that is obtained has the shape of a tube with an initial edgeand an end edge. The latter must be closed, by sewing two opposed flaps,to form the toe of the article. For this purpose, according to the mosttraditional technique, the tubular article, which is still open, isunloaded from the circular machine that has formed it and is sent on toa different manufacturing department where it is taken up again and itis sewn or undergoes linking.

[0003] In order to simplify the manufacturing process, cut down onlabour and in general on production costs, systems and devices haverecently been studied that enable sewing of the toe to be obtained in asimpler way, which can easily be automated and in certain cases may becarried out directly on the circular knitting machine that produces thearticle.

[0004] EP-A-0 592 376 and EP-A-0 635 593 describe circular knittingmachines and corresponding knitting methods in which the tubular articleis closed at the end of the knitting operation. These machines andmethods present the drawback of requiring a particular construction ofthe machine, with machine accessories and parts that are not normallyavailable and that cannot be inserted into traditional and pre-existingknitting machines.

[0005] EP-A-0 679 746 describes a device for picking up a tubulararticle from a circular knitting machine in order to carry outsubsequent sewing of the toe off the circular machine. The device iscomplex, in particular as regards the means for picking up and handlingthe article.

[0006] WO-A-00/01869 describes a device and method for picking up atubular article from the circular machine that produces it and forclosing the toe of the article by sewing. The device described in theabove document is particularly advantageous in so far it has a simple,reliable and inexpensive structure. In addition, the method that may beimplemented with this known device is fast and consequently enables highproduction rates to be achieved. However, also this device presents anumber of drawbacks deriving from the fact that it must be inserted intothe needle cylinder of the circular machine, and consequently in certaincases it requires adaptation of the circular machine, with an increasein the diameter of the needle cylinder. In addition, a sewing machinemust be provided underneath the circular knitting machine.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a device of thetype specified above that will enable simple and reliable handling ofthe tubular article and that can be advantageously designed in such away that it can be applied to existing circular machines without saidmachines having to be modified.

[0008] The above and further purposes and advantages, which will clearlyappear to persons skilled in the art from the ensuing text, are achievedthanks to a device characterized by a suction pipe that develops from anintake end, in an area where the tubular article is picked up from thecircular knitting machine, to an output end, which is located in an areawhere the toe of the article is sewn, and by an element for guiding thetubular article, which develops inside said suction pipe and extendsoutside it from the intake end so as to be inserted inside the cylinderof said circular knitting machine, there being provided, between theguide element and the inner wall of the suction pipe, a space fortransit of the tubular article.

[0009] With the above arrangement, the tubular article is formed by thecircular bed of needles around the guide element, which may be made evenwith a relatively modest cross section and hence may be inserted into aneedle cylinder of the size currently used in knitting machines for theproduction of hosiery articles. The tubular article that has been formedis sucked inside the duct and is guided along the latter by the guideelement until it reaches the output end of the suction pipe, to which asystem is associated for extraction of the tubular article from thesuction pipe and for turning the article inside out onto the outside ofthe suction pipe.

[0010] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of theinvention, the suction pipe is internally divided into two consecutiveportions by an openable intermediate separator. The latter also has thefunction of supporting the guide element. When the intermediateseparator is opened to enable passage of the tubular article, the guideelement is temporarily supported by appropriate supporting means thatcan move in such a way as to enable passage of the tubular articleinside the space between the inner surface of the suction pipe and theguide element.

[0011] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of theinvention, the guide element may have a telescopically extensibleportion which can extend towards the output end of the suction pipe.Said telescopically extensible portion is extended as far as the outputend of the suction pipe when the tubular article is to reach the sewingmeans associated to the output end, and is then retracted to facilitatedischarge of the tubular article after closing of the toe. In this case,discharge may, take place by suction in the reverse direction inside thesuction pipe.

[0012] In order to facilitate discharge of the tubular article, it ispossible to envisage that the guide element should be made up of twoparts hinged together about an axis orthogonal to the axis of thesuction pipe, in such a way that the guide element will be able to comeup to the inner wall of the suction pipe to enable passage of thetubular article that has been sewn.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the invention, the system forextracting the tubular article from the suction pipe may comprise:

[0014] widening members for widening the tubular article at the initialedge of the article itself, said widening members causing widening ofthe initial edge of the tubular article beyond the outer diameter of thesuction pipe; and

[0015] members for turning the tubular article inside out, from theinside of the suction pipe to the outside.

[0016] The widening members may comprise a plurality of stems which areroughly parallel to the axis of the suction pipe and are provided with amotion of approach to and recession from the axis of the suction pipe soas to assume a position close to the axis of the suction pipe and aposition outside the diameter of the suction pipe, said stems beingaxially mobile along the outside of the suction pipe.

[0017] It is also possible to envisage that the stems should be carriedeach by a plate roughly orthogonal to the axis of the suction pipe. Inthis way, when the stems are in the position close to the axis of thesuction pipe, the plates form a contrast wall for arrest of the tubulararticle that is being conveyed inside said suction pipe. This rendersthe configuration of the device particularly, simple, even though thepossibility is not ruled out of separating the stems from the plates andcontrolling the latter separately from and independently of the stems.

[0018] The members for turning the article inside out may comprise, forexample, radial pushers that are mobile radially and axially withrespect to said suction pipe and outside the latter to press the tubulararticle against the outer surface of the suction pipe and draw it alongsaid outer surface.

[0019] The invention also relates to a circular knitting machinecomprising a device of the type described above.

[0020] Further advantageous characteristics of the device according tothe invention are specified in the attached claims and will be describedin greater detail hereinafter with reference to a non-limiting exampleof embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] A better understanding of the present invention will be providedby the ensuing description and by the attached drawings, whichillustrate a non-limiting example of embodiment of the invention. Ingreater detail, in the drawings:

[0022]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for picking up a tubularknitted article from a cylinder of a circular knitting machine and of adevice for sewing the toe of the article;

[0023]FIG. 2 is a side view according to the line II-II of FIG. 1;

[0024]FIG. 3 is a view according to the line III-III of FIG. 2;

[0025]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the devices combined with acircular knitting machine;

[0026]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one part of the sewing area, withelements removed for reasons of greater clarity of the drawing;

[0027]FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 and shows the same members from adifferent observation point;

[0028]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sewing machine for closing thetoes of tubular articles picked up by the pick-up device;

[0029]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an intermediate separator setalong a suction pipe of the pick-up device;

[0030]FIG. 9 shows the internal members of the intermediate separator ofFIG. 8;

[0031]FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the intermediateseparator;

[0032]FIG. 11 shows a mobile axial unit that carries the wideningmembers and the members for turning the tubular article inside out forpreparing it for sewing of the toe;

[0033]FIG. 12 shows the same unit as FIG. 11 with parts removed;

[0034]FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the unit ofFIGS. 11 and 12;

[0035]FIG. 14 is a view from below according to the line XIV-XIV of FIG.13;

[0036]FIG. 15 shows a pair of bars for retention of the article duringthe initial steps of sewing of the toe;

[0037]FIG. 16 shows a comb-like structure for engagement of the articleduring sewing and a cutting member housed inside the comb-likestructure;

[0038] FIGS. 17 to 28 show, in a cross-sectional plane passing throughthe axis of the suction pipe, the device for picking up the article (orpart of the device), as well as the widening members and the members forturning the article inside out in order to prepare it for sewing of thetoe, FIG. 17A being an enlargement of the output area of the suctionpipe;

[0039]FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view according to the line XXIX-XXIXof FIG. 28;

[0040]FIG. 29A is an enlargement of the central area of FIG. 29;

[0041] FIGS. 30 to 32 are cross-sectional views, according to the lineXXX-XXX of FIG. 29, of the pair of bars for retention of the article andof the comb-like structure in the step of engagement of the article andinsertion of the comb-like structure into the respective row ofstitches, as a preliminary step to sewing of the toe;

[0042]FIG. 33 shows the sewing machine and the comb-like structureinserted in the article during sewing;

[0043]FIG. 34 is an enlargement of a detail of FIG. 33;

[0044]FIG. 35 is a schematic illustration of the action of the needle ofthe sewing machine during the sewing operation;

[0045] FIGS. 36 to 39 show the steps for cutting the loops of the row ofthe tubular article inside which the comb-like structure has beeninserted;

[0046]FIG. 40 shows the step of removal of the residue of yarn aftercutting of the loops adjacent to the sewing row;

[0047]FIG. 41 illustrates a detail of FIG. 40;

[0048]FIG. 42 is a perspective view illustrating a possible embodimentof the system for removal of the residue of yarn; and

[0049]FIG. 43 is an axial sectional view of the end portion of thesuction pipe in the step of removal of the tubular article after thesewing operation;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0050] The devices for picking up and sewing tubular articles are shownin FIG. 4 in combination with a circular knitting machine, and inisolation from the knitting machine in FIGS. 1 to 3. The internalstructure of the pick-up device may be seen in FIGS. 17 to 28. In someof the figures, parts of the devices have been removed for greaterclarity of representation. In what follows generic reference willfrequently be made to the ensemble made up of the pick-up device andsewing device as to a single device for picking up the article andclosing the toe, it being, however, understood that the pick-up devicemay be combined with a different device for closing the toe and viceversa.

[0051] In the attached drawings, the device for picking up the tubulararticle and closing the toe is designated, as a whole, by 1, whilst 3designates, as a whole, the circular knitting machine that produces thetubular article. Of the circular knitting machine 3, only the essentialcomponents are indicated, which may be seen in particular in FIGS. 17 to19, which show the cylinder 5 of the needles 7 that form a circularneedle bed, in a way in itself known. The needle cylinder 5 issupported, in such a way that it can turn about its own axis, by meansof a support, designated by 9, and is set in rotation by means ofmembers (not illustrated) which mesh with a crown gear 11. The membersfor controlling the needles 7 of the circular bed are not shown, but arein themselves known, as are also all the other members of the circularknitting machine 3, which consequently will not be described in anyfurther detail herein.

[0052] The device 1 comprises a suction pipe 13, which is substantiallyU-shaped, and one end of which, designated by 13A, will hereinafter bereferred to as intake end, whilst one end, designated by 13B, willhereinafter be referred to as output end. The intake end 13A is setunderneath the cylinder 5 of the needles 7 of the knitting machine 3. Inthis way, the suction pipe 13 may have any diameter whatsoever, which isindependent of the, internal diameter of the cylinder 5.

[0053] Inside the suction pipe 13 there develops a guide element,designated as a whole by 15. Said guide element 15 (which in the exampleillustrated has a substantially tubular conformation with a circularcross section) extends outside the suction pipe 13 from the intake end13A as far as inside the cylinder 5 of the needles 7 of the knittingmachine 3. The top end of the guide element 15 approximately reaches theplane of formation of the knitted fabric of the knitting machine 3.

[0054] The guide element 15 is made up of two parts, one of which isdesignated by 15A and the other by 15B. These two parts are hinged aboutan axis of trace 17 (see in particular FIG. 17) orthogonal to the axis(namely, to the median line) of the suction pipe 13 and of the guideelement 15 itself. The reason for this configuration will appear moreclearly from the ensuing description of the operation of discharge ofthe article with the toe closed.

[0055] The guide element 15 is supported, inside the suction pipe 13, bymeans of an intermediate separator, which is designated as a whole by19, and the parts of which are illustrated in detail in FIGS. 8 to 10.The intermediate separator 19 also performs the function of dividing thesuction pipe 13 into two consecutive parts, the first of which developsbetween the intake end 13A and the intermediate separator 19, and thesecond between the latter and the output end 13B.

[0056] As may be seen in detail in FIGS. 8 to 10, the intermediateseparator 19 is made up of a pair of jaws 21 and 22 operated byrespective actuators 23 and, 24, which, in the example illustrated,consist of cylinder-piston systems. The jaws 21 and 22 are fixed to thestems of the cylinder-piston actuators 23 and 24 and have V-shaped frontprofiles, designated by 21V and 22V. The jaw 21 has a slot, inside whichthe front portion of the jaw 22 penetrates in such a way as to grip,between the two profiles 21V and 22V, the guide element 15, withholdingit in a coaxial position, namely centred with respect to the suctionpipe 13.

[0057] The jaws 21 and 22 slide in a guide frame 25 which is fixed tothe suction pipe 13.

[0058] As may be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10 (in the latter figure the jaws21 and 22 being shown in the closed condition), the jaw 22 has aninternal duct, designated by 27, which opens onto the profile 22V andonto the top portion of the jaw itself (see in particular FIG. 9). Theframe 25 has a slotted opening 29 in a position corresponding to theoutlet area of the internal duct 27 to enable application of a flexiblepipe or hose that connects the internal duct 27 to a source of air underpressure (not shown) for the purposes that will be clarified in whatfollows.

[0059] As may be seen in particular in FIGS. 17, 18 and 19, the guideelement 15 has (in its part 15B) a hollow structure inside which a stem15C is housed that terminates with a head 15E (see in particular FIG.17A), said stem constituting a telescopically extensible portion of theguide element itself. The reference number 15D designates a extensionspring that forces the stem 15C to return into the hollow tubular partof the guide element. The air under pressure, which can be suppliedthrough the internal duct 27 of the jaw 22, has the function ofpressurizing the internal area of the hollow part 15B of the guideelement 15 to overcome the force of the extension spring 15D and toextract the stem 15C until it reaches the position illustrated in FIGS.17 to 19, whilst in FIG. 20 the stem 15C is shown in a retractedposition inside the hollow part of the guide element 15.

[0060] Since the jaws 21 and 22 of the intermediate separator 19 canopen, thus releasing the guide element 15 in order to enable passage ofthe tubular article which must pass along the suction pipe 13 (as willbe clarified in what follows), along the suction pipe 13 there areprovided further systems for temporary support of the guide element 15inside the suction pipe 13. These supporting means are clearly visiblein FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and are represented in a simplified way in theremaining figures. They are made up of three sets of sliders 31, 32, 33positioned in respective three sections set at distances apart along thedevelopment of the suction pipe 13. In greater detail, two sets of threesliders, namely the sets of three sliders 31 and 32, are positioned onplanes orthogonal to the axis of the suction pipe between the intake end13A of the suction pipe and the intermediate separator 19. The last setof sliders 33 is positioned on a plane between the intermediateseparator 19 and the output end 13B of the suction pipe 13. The sets ofsliders 31, 32 and 33 can be brought back or retracted in such a waythat they do not project inside the suction pipe 13, so as to leavecompletely free the space between the inner wall of the suction pipe 13and the guide element is. Alternatively, the sliders of each set can bedisplaced radially inwards in such a way that they engage the guideelement 15, supporting it inside the suction pipe 13. Synchronizedactuation of the sets of sliders 31, 32, 33 enables (in the way thatwill be clarified hereinafter) transit of the tubular article dischargedfrom the circular needle bed 37 along the suction pipe 13 towards theoutput end 13B of the latter.

[0061] The suction pipe 13 has an end part 13C which is angularly mobileabout its own axis with respect to the remaining part of the suctionpipe. The movement of rotation of the end part 13C of the suction pipe13 is imparted by an actuator 35, for example a stepper motor. Thelatter enables adjustment of the angular position of the part 13C of thesuction pipe 13 with respect to the remaining part (which is fixed onthe supporting structure) of the pipe, in order to orient appropriatelythe tubular article before sewing of the toe of the latter, as willemerge clearly from the detailed description of the modes of operationof the entire device.

[0062] At the output end 13B of the suction pipe 13 there is provided asewing area, designated as a whole by 37. Located in this area are themembers that have the function of extracting the tubular article,turning it inside out, from inside the suction pipe 13, of closing thetoe of said article by sewing and re-inserting the article into thesuction pipe 13 so as to discharge it finally from the device.

[0063] Set in the sewing area 37 is a unit 39 which surrounds thesuction pipe 13, and more precisely the portion 13C of the latter. Theunit 39 carries, in a way that will be described in detail withreference to FIGS. 11 to 14, the widening members and the members forturning the tubular article inside out before it is sewn. The unit 39 isaxially mobile, in the direction indicated by the arrow f39, along theend part 13C of the suction pipe 13. For this purpose, there areprovided a slide guide 41 and an actuator 43 which controls movement ofthe unit 39.

[0064] The unit 39 is illustrated in detail in a perspective view inFIGS. 11 and 12, in a cross-sectional view in FIG. 13, and in a viewfrom below in FIG. 14. FIG. 11 shows a ring 45 which forms part of theunit 39 and which is coaxial with the axis of the part 13C of thesuction pipe 13. The ring 45 supports a plurality of radial pushers 47constituting the members for turning the tubular article inside outbefore sewing of the toe. Each pusher 47 is provided with a radialmovement controlled by a corresponding actuator 49, for example a smallcylinder-piston actuator. Beneath the ring 45, the unit 39 has a wall 51which delimits an internal suction chamber 53. The latter is connected,through an opening 55, to a suction line, the connection of which to thesuction chamber 53 is designated by 57.

[0065] Set inside the suction chamber 53 present in the unit 39 are fiveshaped plates 59 supported by rotating spindles 61. Each shaped plate 59carries, in a position at a distance from the corresponding supportingspindle 61, a stem 63 parallel to the spindle 61 itself. Theconformation of the shaped plates 59 is such that (see in particularFIG. 12, in which the overlying pushers 47, their actuators 49 and thering 45 have been removed for clarity of representation), in a firstangular position of the spindles 61, they form a substantiallycontinuous wall orthogonal to the axis of the suction pipe 13, or moreexactly to the end part 13C of the suction pipe 13. The wall formed bythe shaped plates 59 has a central hole 65 for the purposes that will beclarified hereinafter.

[0066] The shaped plates 59 are controlled in such a way that they opensimultaneously by means of an oscillation of each spindle 61 about itsown axis. For this purpose, a mechanism is provided, which is shown inFIGS. 13 and 14 and which comprises pinions 67 fixed to the bottom endof each spindle 61 and meshing with an internal-toothing crown gear 69,the rotation of which causes spontaneous rotation of the pinions 67 andthus of the spindles 61. Rotation of the toothed crown gear 69 isobtained by means of a pinion 70 fitted on a shaft 72 which is driven inrotation about its own axis by means of a cylinder-piston actuator 74.

[0067] Set above the unit 39, and approximately aligned with the endpart 13C of the suction pipe 13, is a gripping member, designated as awhole by 71, for gripping the tubular article that is to be sewn. Thegripping member comprises a pair of brackets 73 (see in particular FIGS.1 to 3 and 5 and 6) which are mobile with respect to one another with amovement of approach and recession represented by the double-headedarrow f73 (see in particular FIGS. 5 and 6). Movement in the directionindicated by the arrow f73 is obtained by a pair of cylinder-pistonactuators associated to the brackets 73 and carried by a structure whichis in turn provided with movements according to a horizontal axis X anda vertical axis Y (see again in particular FIGS. 5 and 6). As willemerge clearly hereinafter, the brackets 73 can be brought up to oneanother for penetrating inside the suction pipe 13 and gripping the endedge of the tubular article, and then tensioning it and carrying it tothe sewing machine for the subsequent sewing operation.

[0068] The structure that carries the member 71 for gripping the tubulararticle is supported by a base structure 75, which is in turnconstrained to a fixed frame, for example the frame itself of theknitting machine 3. The base structure 75 carries a pair of bars 77 and79 which are roughly rectilinear. The bar 77 is fixed to a portion ofmetal section 81 which is mobile, as indicated by the double-headedarrow f81, by means of cylinder-piston actuators (not shown). In thisway, the bar 77 can move away from and up to the bar 79, which is,instead, fixed with respect to the base plate 75.

[0069] Underneath the fixed rectilinear bar 79, a comb-like structure 83is provided, which is illustrated in isolation and in detail in FIG. 16.The comb-like structure 83 has a plurality of teeth 85 and is made up oftwo portions 83A and 83B, which are connected together and define anintermediate seat for sliding of a cutting blade 87. The comb-likestructure 83 is mobile as indicated by the double-headed arrow f83 (seein particular FIG. 6) in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinaldevelopment of the fixed rectilinear bar 79. The cutting blade 87 housedinside the comb-like structure 83 moves together with the comb-likestructure 83, following the movement of the latter as indicated by thearrow f83. The movement is obtained by cylinder-piston actuators orequivalent actuators, designated by 89 in FIG. 6.

[0070] As may be seen in particular in FIG. 16, the cutting blade 87 isprovided with a plurality of slots 87A which are inclined with respectto the cutting edge 87B of the blade 87. Into the slots 87A there insertpins 83C which are fixed to the portion 83B of the comb-like structure83. At one of its ends, the blade 87 extends to form an appendage 87C inwhich a slot 87D orthogonal to the cutting edge 87B of the blade itselfis made. In said slot 87D there engages a slider 91 provided with amovement, parallel to the cutting edge 878, imparted by acylinder-piston actuator or equivalent actuator 93. The actuator 93 iscarried by the base plate 75, as may be seen in particular in FIG. 6.Thanks to the slot 87D, the cutting blade 87 can move in a directionorthogonal to the cutting edge 87B to follow the movement indicated bythe double-headed arrow f83 of the comb-like structure 83, all the timemaintaining mechanical connection with the actuator 93. Operation of theactuator 93 causes a thrust in the direction indicated by the arrow f87(FIG. 16) on the blade 87, which consequently (thanks to the arrangementof the pins 83C and of the inclined slots 87A) will perform a movementwith one component that is parallel and one component that is orthogonalto the longitudinal development of the comb-like structure 83. Thefunction of this movement is, as will be clarified in what follows, thatof cutting the loops of the row of stitches inside which the comb-likestructure 83 is inserted for carrying out sewing of the toe of thetubular article.

[0071] In the sewing area 37 there is moreover provided a sewingmachine, designated as a whole by 95, and illustrated in isolation fromthe other mechanical members in FIG. 7. The sewing machine 95 has beenomitted for reasons of clarity of representation in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.The sewing machine has a sewing needle 96 and a mouth for suction of thesewing thread 99. The reference number 101 designates the so-called“crochet”, which imparts the raising and lowering movement on the sewingthread for the latter, fed by the thread bobbin, to be appropriatelypicked up by the sewing needle 96. The shape of the crochet 101 isprovided purely by way of example. The crochet may, for instance, alsobe of the rotating or oscillating type. Likewise, the shape of theneedle co-operating with it may be different. The structure of thesewing machine 95 is of a type in itself known to persons skilled in theart, and consequently will not be described in greater detail herein.The type of sewing performed by the needle 96 will in any case bedescribed in greater detail with reference to the operation of thedevice.

[0072] The sewing machine 95 is provided with a sewing movement,indicated by the arrow f95 in FIG. 4, imparted by an actuator,designated as a whole by 97 again in FIG. 4.

[0073] Associated to the sewing machine 95 is a retention member forwithholding the tubular article after sewing of the toe in order tocarry out cutting of the part of fabric external to the seam. Theretention member is designated as a whole by 103, and its position withrespect to the other members of the device is illustrated in FIG. 4,whilst its structure is illustrated in detail in the perspectiverepresentation of FIG. 15.

[0074] The retention member 103 comprises a pair of bars 105, which aresubstantially parallel to the movement of the sewing machine 95 and tothe fixed bar 77 and mobile bar 79. The retention bars 105 are providedwith a movement orthogonal to their own development in the directionindicated by the double-headed arrow f105 in FIG. 15. In this way, theycan be brought up to one another for withholding the article, or movedaway from one another for releasing it. The movement is imparted bycylinder-piston actuators (not shown) housed in the structure of theretention member 103 fixed to the sewing machine 95. Since the retentionmember 103 is fixed to the sewing machine 95, it is also translatedintegrally with the sewing machine when the latter performs the sewingmovement in the direction of the arrow f95. This enables the bars 105 tobe brought into alignment with the tubular article that is being sewn.

[0075] Finally, fixed to the sewing machine 95 is a system for removalof the residue of yarn after the cutting operation has been performed bythe blade 87, said system being designated as a whole by 107, and itsposition with respect to the other members of the device being shown inFIG. 4. The structure of the removal system 107 in a possible embodimentis illustrated in the perspective representation of FIG. 42. The removalsystem 107 is provided with one or more brush members 109 which rotateabout the axis of a vertical shaft which is inserted into a suctionmouth 111 through which the residue of yarn separated from the tubulararticle by the brush 109 is sucked in and removed.

[0076] Operation of the device so far described is illustrated in whatfollows with particular reference to FIGS. 17 to 43.

[0077]FIG. 17 shows the end step of knitting of a tubular article M bythe needles 7 of the circular bed of needles of the circular knittingmachine 3. The tubular article is knitted starting from an edge B1,which in FIG. 17 is in the bottom part and which in the finished articlewill remain open. When the tubular article M is a sock, said edgeconstitutes the elastic border of the sock. The final knitting stepenvisages formation of an edge B2 which is designed to be sewn to formthe closed toe of the finished product.

[0078] During formation, the tubular article M comes to set itself inthe space between the cylinder 5 of the needles 7 and the guide element15, and more precisely the part of said guide element that projects withrespect to the intake end 13A of the suction pipe 13. In this step, theintermediate separator 19 set along the suction pipe 13 is closed, andhence the jaws 21 and 22 grip the guide element 15, holding it inposition inside the suction pipe 13. Preferably, at least one of thesets of sliders 31 and 32 is also gripped, with the sliders engaging theguide element. The portion of suction pipe between the intake end 13Aand the intermediate separator 19 is kept at a negative pressure througha suction mouth 14 set adjacent to the intermediate separator 19, on theintake side of the suction pipe 13. The mouth 14 is connected to asuction fan or the like (not shown).

[0079] The stem 15C which can be extracted from the guide element 15 hasbeen previously pushed into its extracted position by means of the airunder pressure fed through the jaws of the separator member 19. In thisextracted position, the head 15E of the stem 15C comes to be above theplane of the plates 59, which are opened to enable passage of the headitself. Closing of the shaped plates 59 results in the stem 15Cremaining engaged, through the hole 65 between the shaped plates 59,with the head 15E above the plates themselves. This means that the stem15C will remain in the extracted position even in the absence ofpressure inside the guide element 15, and hence even when the jaws ofthe separator member 19 open. In this configuration, the stems 63 fixedto the plates 59 are up against the axis of the stem 15C and are atleast partially housed in a seat made in the stem below the head 15E ofthe latter, in such a way as to reduce the radial encumbrance of thestems 63 for the reasons that will be clarified in what follows.

[0080] When the tubular article M has been completed by the circular bedof needles 7 of the circular knitting machine 3, it is unloaded from theneedles and, as a result of the negative pressure inside the suctionpipe 13, is sucked in along the suction pipe 13 until it assumes theposition shown in FIG. 18; i.e., until it comes up against theintermediate separator 19. Movement of the article M along the suctionpipe 13 is guided by the guide element 15, the article M sliding in thefree space between the inner wall of the suction pipe 13 and the guideelement 15. In order to enable passage of the article M beyond thetransverse surfaces on which the sliders 31 and 32 act, the latter areclosed and opened in an alternating way, so that, during passage of thearticle M, only one of the sets of sliders, either 31 or 32, is engagedwith the guide element 15. In this way, the tubular article M can passbeyond the sections in which the sliders are set and can reach theposition illustrated in FIG. 18.

[0081] In order to cause the tubular article M to reach the output end13B of the suction pipe 13, in such a way that it bears upon the wallformed by the shaped plates 59 in the position illustrated in FIG. 19,the intermediate separator 19 is opened by moving the jaws 21 and 22away from one another. Suction through the mouth 14 can now beinterrupted, whereas suction is activated through the suction lineconnected, by means of the connection 57, to the chamber 53 inside themobile unit 39. This latter suction can be activated also in theprevious step, i.e., the one represented in FIG. 18.

[0082] In this way, the tubular article M reaches the positionrepresented in FIG. 19, in which it bears upon the wall formed by theshaped plates 59 in their closed configuration. Also in this case,movement of the tubular article M is guided by the guide element 15,which extends as far as the shaped plates 59. The sliders 33, which werepreviously closed for supporting the guide element 15 during opening ofthe jaws of the intermediate separator 19, are opened to enable passageof the article. Opening of the sliders 33 can be synchronized with a newmovement of closure of the intermediate separator 19, in such a way thatthe guide element 15 will be all the time properly withheld in asubstantially central position inside the suction pipe 13.Alternatively, lateral support of the guide element may be obtained,even at least in part, by means of engagement with the hole in the walldefined by the plates 59.

[0083] The function of the subsequent steps is to extract the tubulararticle M from the suction pipe 13 and turn it inside out to carry outthe closing operation whereby the end edge B2 of the article is sewn toform the closed toe thereof.

[0084] For this purpose, as may be seen in FIG. 20 (which represents theend area alone of the suction pipe 13), the plates 59 are displaced bymeans of the rotating spindles 61 so as to displace radially outwardsthe stems 63 fixed to the plates 59.

[0085] Since both the plates 59 and the stems 63 are above the outputend 13B and hence outside the suction pipe 13, the movement ofdivarication of the stems 63 can be extended up to the point where thelatter are brought into an external radial position (shown in FIG. 20)outside the encumbrance defined by the edge of the suction pipe 13. Inthis position, the portion of fabric of the article M close to the edgeB1 is tensioned in such a way that it is substantially outside theencumbrance of the suction pipe 13.

[0086] Once the stems 63 have engaged the tubular article M, thetelescopically extensible stem 15C of the guide element 15 can beretracted inside the portion 15B of the latter, thus reducing thepressure inside the part 15B of the guide element. 15. Retraction of thestem is obtained by means of the effect of the extension spring 15D. InFIG. 20 the stem 15C is illustrated in its retracted position.

[0087] By means of a vertical movement downwards, as indicated by thearrow f39, of the unit 39, the stems 63 are brought into a positionwhere they are set alongside one another externally and laterally withrespect to the output end 13B of the suction pipe 13. The tubulararticle is still engaged by the stems 63 and has thus followed thelatter, enveloping externally the suction pipe 13 in the area thatsurrounds the output end 13B of the latter. The lowering movement of theunit 39 proceeds until the stems 63 have been completely released fromthe tubular article M (FIG. 22).

[0088] In order to extract the tubular article M completely from insidethe suction pipe 13 and turn it inside out by bringing it onto the outersurface of the suction pipe 13, the pushers 47 are pressed against thetubular article M (FIG. 23), and the unit 39 is at this point furtherdisplaced downwards, as indicated by the arrow f39 (FIG. 24). In thisway, the further movement downwards, as indicated by the arrow f39, ofthe mobile unit 39 causes the tubular article M to be drawn along theouter surface of the suction pipe 13 until the unit 39 reaches theposition illustrated in FIG. 24. In this position, the tubular article Mis completely on the outside of the suction pipe 13. It is also turnedinside out with respect to the configuration in which it was knitted bythe circular knitting machine 3. The pushers 47 can be divaricated againto release the tubular article M, which remains in the positionillustrated in FIG. 25 thanks to the elasticity of the article itself(and in particular of its initial edge Bi), which grips on the outersurface of the suction pipe 13. If the tubular article M is particularlylong, the stroke downwards of the unit 39 with the pushers 47 in theclosed position can be repeated a number of times, bringing the unit 39each time back upwards after prior opening of the pushers 47 to preventthe latter from drawing the tubular article upwards again during thestroke upwards of the unit 39.

[0089] As may be seen in FIG. 24, the suction pipe 13 has two slits 13Dwhich start from the output end 13B, i.e., from the edge of the suctionpipe 13, and which extend in a direction parallel to the axis of thesuction pipe for a certain stretch. The function of these slits is toenable the brackets 73 to grip the tubular article M and to slide itpartially out of the suction pipe 13 for closing the toe of the articleby sewing. Before this operation is carried out, however, the tubulararticle M may require angular positioning.

[0090] In fact, the sewing line which is designed to close the toe ofthe article must have a very precise orientation with respect to thearticle itself, which normally presents pockets, namely portions offabric designed to form the heel area and the toe area of the foot ofthe sock or stocking. The sewing line must assume an extremely preciseposition with respect to these pockets of fabric. In order to orient thetubular article properly before the sewing operation, it is sufficientto provide, during knitting, marking of the article, for instance bymeans of a few stitches of yarn of a colour different from that of theyarn of the article. The marking thus obtained can be detected by meansof a photo-electric cell (not shown) set in the proximity of the outputend 13B of the suction pipe 13. Appropriate angular orientation of thetubular article M is at this point obtained by rotating, about its ownaxis, the portion 13C of the suction pipe 13 by means of the actuator35. This rotation is the movement that brings the device from theposition of FIG. 24 to the position of FIG. 25. The two figures differ,in fact, only as regards the different position of the slits 13D made inthe proximity of the output end 13D of the suction pipe 13. Thedeviation in angular position between the two figures represents theamount by which the portion 13C of the suction pipe 13 is rotated withrespect to the remaining part of the pipe itself in order to bring thetubular article into the correct angular position.

[0091] During this step of angular positioning, or in any case at anappropriate instant, the unit 39 is brought back upwards until itreaches the position illustrated in FIG. 26, the pushers 47 remaining intheir retracted position, i.e., not in contact with the tubular article,during said movement upwards.

[0092] Once the unit 39 has reached the top position illustrated in FIG.26, the pushers are closed again to press the tubular article M againstthe outer surface of the suction pipe 13 in the proximity of the outputend 13B of the latter. Once the tubular article M has been engaged againby pressing it against the outer surface of the portion 13C of thesuction pipe 13, the portion 13C can be rotated again so as to bring theslits 13D into their original position, namely on a plane which containsthe axis of the portion 13C of the suction pipe and is orthogonal to theplane of FIG. 26. This movement of rotation of the portion 13C of thesuction pipe 13, again obtained by means of the actuator 35, does notcause an angular movement of the tubular article M, in so far as thelatter is withheld by the pushers 47, which are advantageously coatedwith a material having a high coefficient of friction. In this way, theportion 13C of the suction pipe 13 rotates inside the tubular article Min a sliding way, i.e., sliding on the inner surface of the latter.

[0093] In the configuration of FIG. 26, the tubular article M is in thecorrect angular position for the subsequent sewing operation, and cantherefore be picked up by the brackets 73 of the gripping member 71. Thebrackets 73, which are brought up to one another, are for this purposelowered until they move inside the suction pipe 13, into the positionshown in FIG. 27, which represents a longitudinal cross section of thesuction pipe 13 according to a plane orthogonal to the one representedin FIG. 26. The brackets 73 thus lie on a plane containing the axis A ofthe portion 13C of the suction pipe 13, on which also the slits 13D lie.In this way, divarication of the brackets 73, as indicated by the arrowf73 of FIG. 27, is enabled for tensioning the edge B2 of the tubulararticle M and thus bringing the two flaps of the edge to come close toone another. The movement of divarication of the brackets 73 is combinedwith a movement of lifting-up of the brackets, which thus reach theirfinal position, illustrated in FIG. 28. In the end phase of the raisingmovement of the brackets 73, the pushers 47 can be brought up to thesuction pipe 13 again for withholding the tubular article M and thuscausing longitudinal tensioning thereof.

[0094] In this position, the edge B2 of the tubular article M has beenstretched or tensioned by means of the brackets 73 in such a way thatthe two flaps of the edge have been aligned to one another. The brackets73 have been brought into a vertical position such that their bottomends are slightly above the rectilinear bars 77 and 79. The latter canthus be brought up to one another to grip the tubular article M in anappropriate position of the edge B2. This is schematically representedin FIG. 29, which shows a longitudinal cross section according to aplane orthogonal to that of FIG. 28. The rectilinear bar 77 has beenbrought up to the fixed bar 79. In FIG. 28, L1 and L2 designate the twoflaps of the edge B2 that have been brought close to one another as aresult of the tensioning of the edge B2 performed by the brackets 73 ofthe gripping member 71. The article can be tensioned by means of aslight movement downwards of the unit 39 with the pushers 47.

[0095]FIG. 29A is a schematic enlargement of the area in which the flapsof fabric L1 and L2 forming the edge of the tubular article that is tobe closed can be seen. As shown in the schematic section of the fabric,the latter presents a series of rows X2 set above the bars 77 and 79,some of these rows being made with a yarn thicker than that of the otherrows. Said thicker rows form a portion of fabric of greater thickness,which is brought to bear upon the bars 77, 79 set alongside one another.The bars 77, 79 do not necessarily have to be pressed against thefabric, which, instead, is appropriately left free to slide so as to betensioned transversely. Retention in the longitudinal direction isguaranteed by the fact that the portion of fabric of greater thicknessobtained with the thicker yarn, designated by FG in FIG. 29A, bears uponthe bars 77, 79. The portion of the tubular article made up of the rowsX2 will be removed in the subsequent cutting operation, and isconsequently normally produced with a yarn of poorer quality than theyarn of the remaining part of the tubular article M.

[0096] During the sewing operation, the edge formed by the rows X2 maybe kept raised by means of suction through a suction mouth associated tothe sewing machine 95 and designated, as a whole by 102 in FIGS. 33 and34.

[0097] With a movement in the direction indicated by the arrow f83, thecomb-like structure 83 is at this point pushed towards the tubulararticle M until the teeth 85 of the comb-like structure 83 penetrateinside the stitches or loops of the row that is set facing the comb-likestructure 83, namely the row that is directly beneath the rectilinearbars 77 and 79. As may be seen in the diagram of FIG. 29A, the loops ofthis row (designated by X1) have a greater length than the remainingloops of the article in order to enable convenient insertion of theteeth 85 of the comb-like structure 83.

[0098] The movement in the direction indicated by the arrow f83 of thecomb-like structure 83 is controlled by the actuators 89 describedpreviously (see FIG. 6) and not illustrated, for reasons of clarity, inFIG. 29. The closing movement of the rectilinear bars 77 and 79 and thesubsequent movement of the comb-like structure 83 are represented in thesequence of FIGS. 30 to 32, which show the aforesaid movements inschematic plan views.

[0099] Once the teeth 85 of the comb-like structure 83 have penetratedthe individual loops of the respective row in the tubular article M, themobile rectilinear bar 77 can be retracted to enable insertion of themembers of the sewing machine 95, which performs sewing along the loopsof the row of stitches underneath the row inside which the teeth 85 ofthe comb-like structure 83 have penetrated. The sewing operations areschematically illustrated in FIG. 33.

[0100]FIG. 33 shows the needle 96 of the sewing machine 95, the mouth99, and the crochet 101. Also visible is the comb-like structure 83,which is inserted inside the corresponding row of stitches or loops ofthe tubular product M. The sewing area is shown enlarged in FIG. 34.Clearly visible in the latter figure is how the comb-like structure 83and the corresponding teeth 85 are made up of the two portions 83A and83B (shown separate from one another in the perspective view of FIG.16), which are connected together and between which the blade 87 is set,said blade, in this configuration, being in a retracted position, namelya position set back with respect to the teeth 85.

[0101] Movement of the members of the sewing machine, and in particularof the needle 96 and the crochet 101 which feeds the sewing thread F, isshown in FIG. 35. In this example of embodiment, the needle 96 is aso-called piston needle, i.e., a needle provided with an opening andclosing member 96A. A needle of this kind is in itself known from thestate of the art, in particular from the prior patents cited in theintroductory part of the present description. It is, however, possibleto use also other types of needles and/or crochets. For example latchneedles or eye needles may be used. The sequence of the sewingoperations may be clearly seen in FIG. 35 and is in itself known forother types of applications, consequently, no detailed description isrequired herein.

[0102] It should however be noted that the pitch of the seam made by thesewing machine 95 with the needle 96 is smaller than the pitch of thecomb-like structure 83 and of its teeth 85, i.e., smaller than the pitchof the loops of the row X1. In particular, it is possible to envisagethat the pitch of the seam will be equal to one half or to one third ofthe pitch of the loops of the row X1, and hence of the teeth 85 of thecomb-like structure 83.

[0103]FIGS. 36, 37 and 38 show the subsequent step of cutting of theloops of the row X2, inside which the teeth 85 of the comb-likestructure 83 have been inserted. Before carrying out this cuttingoperation, the flaps L1 and L2 of the tubular article M, which are bynow joined together by the seam designated by C in FIGS. 36 to 38, aregripped and withheld by the retention bars 105 of the retention member103 carried by the sewing machine 95 which has made the seam C. Thismakes it possible to withhold the tubular article M even after thecutting operation has been performed. Cutting is performed by moving theblade 87 housed inside the comb-like structure 83 so as to bring it fromthe position of FIG. 36 to the position of FIG. 37. Thanks to thismovement, the blade 87 cuts all the loops of the row X2 inside which theteeth 85 of the comb-like structure 83 were previously inserted.

[0104] At this point, the comb-like structure 83 can be moved away fromthe article to reach the position shown in FIG. 38, whilst the tubulararticle M is withheld by the retention bars 105 provided for thispurpose and previously brought up to one another. The residue of cutyarn above the seam C is removed by the removal system 107, which inFIG. 39 is schematically represented by a brush with a horizontal axis,parallel to the bars 105, but which may actually have the configurationshown in FIG. 40. The enlarged representation of FIG. 41 shows theaction mechanism of the brush 109, in this case with a vertical axis,for removal of the residue of yarn, designated by FR in the enlargedrepresentation of FIG. 41.

[0105] Once said sewing, cutting and yarn-residue-removal operationshave been completed, the article M can be removed from the device, afterthe article has been turned inside out again to assume its finalconfiguration corresponding to the one in which it was produced by thecircular knitting machine 3. For this purpose, reverse operations areperformed with respect to the ones previously carried out for turningthe article inside out by means of the movement of the unit 39 and theaction of the sliders 47. Negative pressure is at this point appliedinside the suction pipe 13 through a suction mouth 16 (FIG. 43) in sucha way that the article, with its toe closed by the seam C, is suckedthrough the mouth 16 and is removed from the device.

[0106] Removal is facilitated by the movement of the part 15B of theguide element 15 with respect to the part 15A, about the hinge axis 17,so that the part 15B of the guide element comes up against the innerwall of the suction pipe 13 on the opposite side with respect to the onewhere the suction mouth 16 is set, leaving a wider passage for transitof the sewn tubular article M towards the suction mouth 16.

[0107] Once the above operations have been completed, the device returnsto the configuration represented in FIG. 17 for sewing of a subsequenttubular article M, which, in the meantime, has started its formation onthe circular knitting machine 3.

[0108] It is understood that the drawings only illustrate a possibleembodiment of the invention given purely to provide a practicaldemonstration of said invention, which may vary in its embodiments andarrangements without thereby departing from the scope of the underlyingidea. The possible presence of reference numbers in the attached claimshas the sole purpose of facilitating reading thereof in the light of theforegoing description and of the annexed drawings, and in no way limitsthe scope of protection defined in the claims.

1. A device for picking up a tubular knitted article from a cylinder ofa circular knitting machine and for closing the toe of said article,said device comprising means for closing said toe of the tubular articleand being characterized in that it comprises: a suction pipe thatdevelops from an intake end, in an area where the tubular article ispicked up from the circular knitting machine, to an output end, in anarea where the toe of the article is sewn; and a guide element forguiding the tubular article, which develops inside said suction pipe andextends outside the latter from the intake-end side to be insertedinside the cylinder of said circular knitting machine, there beingprovided, between the guide element and the inner wall of the suctionpipe, a space for transit of the tubular article.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, in which to the output end of the suction pipethere is associated a system for extraction of the tubular article fromthe suction pipe and for turning said tubular article inside out ontothe outside of the suction pipe.
 3. The device according to claim 1, orclaim 2, in which said suction pipe is internally divided into twoconsecutive portions by an openable intermediate separator.
 4. Thedevice according to claim 1, or 2, or 3, in which associated to saidsuction pipe are means for supporting the guide element inside thesuction pipe, said supporting element enabling transit of the tubulararticle in the space between the inner wall of the suction pipe and theguide element inside it.
 5. The device according to claim 4, in whichsaid supporting means comprise transverse sliders which are carried bythe suction pipe and are mobile for engaging the guide element insidesaid suction pipe and for alternately being released from the latter. 6.The device according to claim 4 or 5, in which said supporting means areset in three sections set at a distance apart along the suction pipe. 7.The device according to claims 3 and 6, in which two of said sectionsare set in the portion of the suction pipe between the intake end andthe intermediate separator, and one of said sections is set between theoutput end and the intermediate separator.
 8. The device according toone or more of the foregoing claims, in which said guide element has aportion which is extensible towards the output end of the suction pipe.9. The device according to claim 8, in which said extensible portion isprovided with single-acting pneumatically controlled telescopicelongation means.
 10. The device according to claims 3 and 9, in whichsaid intermediate separator is associated to an air-feed channel forcontrolling telescopic elongation of said guide element.
 11. The deviceaccording to one or more of the foregoing claims, in which said guideelement is made up of two parts which are hinged together about an axisorthogonal to the axis of the suction pipe.
 12. The device according toat least claim 2, in which said system for extraction of the tubulararticle from the suction pipe comprises: widening members for wideningthe tubular article at the initial edge of the article itself, saidmembers causing widening of the initial edge of the tubular articlebeyond the outer diameter of the suction pipe; and members for turningthe tubular article inside out from inside the suction pipe onto theoutside of the latter.
 13. The device according to at least claim 12, inwhich said widening members comprise a plurality of stems which areapproximately parallel to the axis of the suction pipe and are providedwith a motion of approach to and recession from the axis of the suctionpipe so as to assume a position close to the axis of the suction pipeand a position external to the diameter of the suction pipe, said stemsbeing axially mobile along the outside of the suction pipe.
 14. Thedevice according to claim 13, in which said stems are each carried by aplate roughly orthogonal to the axis of the suction pipe; when the stemsare in the position close to the axis of the suction pipe, the platesforming a contrast wall for arrest of the tubular article that is beingconveyed inside said suction pipe.
 15. The device according to claim 14,in which each of said plates is carried by a rotating spindle roughlyparallel to the axis of the suction pipe and to said stems, the rotationof said spindle causing the approach and recession movement of the stemswith respect to the axis of said suction pipe.
 16. The device accordingto claim 14 or claim 15, in which the contrast wall formed by saidplates when the stems are in a position close to the axis of the suctionpipe has a central hole aligned to the guide element, said guide elementinserting, with its own end, inside said hole.
 17. The device accordingto one or more of claims 12 to 16, in which said guide element has alateral seat for insertion of said stems.
 18. The device according toone or more of claims 12 to 17, in which said members for turning thetubular article inside out comprise radial pushers that move radiallyand axially with respect to said suction pipe and outside the latter soas to press against the outer surface of the suction pipe and draw alongsaid outer surface the tubular article.
 19. The device according to oneor more of claims 12 to 18, in which associated to said widening membersis a suction line for sucking the tubular article up against saidwidening members.
 20. The device according to one or more of claims 12to 19, in which said widening members and said members for turning thetubular article inside out are carried by a unit which is axially mobilealong the suction pipe.
 21. The device according to claims 19 and 20, inwhich said suction line is connected to a suction chamber formed in saidunit.
 22. The device according to one or more of the foregoing claims,in which said suction pipe comprises an end part which is angularlymobile about its own axis with respect to the remaining part of thesuction pipe, an actuator being provided for controlling the movement ofrotation of said end part about its own axis.
 23. The device accordingto one or more of the foregoing claims, in which at its own output endthe suction pipe has slits for passage of a member for gripping the endedge of the article.
 24. The device according to claim 23, in which saidgripping member has two brackets which can be brought up to and movedaway from one another so as to engage the tubular article at the endedge of the latter in two roughly diametrally opposite points and totension said end edge, said brackets being axially mobile with respectto said suction pipe.
 25. The device according to one or more of theforegoing claims, comprising a member for retention of the tubulararticle after sewing of the toe, in order to carry out cutting of thepart of fabric external to the seam thus formed.
 26. The deviceaccording to at least claim 3, in which associated to said suction pipeis a first suction opening, set between the intermediate separator andthe intake end of said suction pipe, and a second suction opening, setbetween the output end and the intermediate separator, through saidsecond suction opening the article being removed after sewing of the toethereof.
 27. The device according to at least claim 3, in which saidintermediate separator is made up of a pair of jaws which engage saidguide element inside the suction pipe.
 28. The device according to atleast claim 8, in which said extensible portion is engaged, at its ownfree end, to a system for closing the output end of the suction pipe.29. The device according to claims 14 and 28, in which said closingsystem consists of said plates that carry said stems, said plates intheir closed configuration defining a hole for engagement of the freeend of said extensible portion.